Definition of: progressive

(prə·gres′iv) adjective
1. Moving forward; advancing: progressive movement; also, moving forward gradually or step by step.
2. Aiming at or characterized by progress.
3. Spreading from one part to others; increasing: said of a disease: progressive paralysis.
4. Striving for or favoring progress or reform, especially social, political, educational or religious: a progressive party, progressive schools.
5. Gram. Designating an aspect of the verb which expresses the action as being in progress at some time in the past, present, or future: formed with any tense of the auxiliary be and the present participle; as, He is speaking; he had been speaking; he was to have been speaking; he will be speaking. See synonyms under GRADUAL.
—noun
1. One who believes in progress or progressive methods; especially, one who favors or promotes reforms or changes, as in politics or religion; a radical: opposed to conservative or reactionary.
2. Gram. A progressive verb form.
—pro·gres′sive·ly adverb
—pro·gres′sive·ness noun
—pro·gres′siv·ism noun
—pro·gres′siv·ist noun